The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-29
LAST DAY-FRIDAY, OCT. 81.

ETludy, ClOSluS Jay. Opouou Will b
continuation of the rainstorm of the
previous evening. The devotional meet
ing announced on the program was not
held, the Convention preferring to open
with the direct business of the Session.
Rev. H. W. Rugg was called upon to
lead in prayer.
The Report of the Committee on Official Re-
ports,
was the assignment for the hour. The
report was read by the chairman, Rev.
G.. Ellwood Nash, of Ohio, in clear
and ringing voice which was quite well
come to the hearers in the distant part
of the large church. The report fol.
lows:
To the Uniuersatist General Contention, in
session at NeU York, Oct. 20, 1887:
Your committee charged with the duty of
considering the Report of the Board of Trus-
tees and of the Treasurer of the Convention
have performed the tasks assigned them, and
respectfully report as follows:
Your committee congratulate the Conven-
ton upon the evidences of progress during
the past year as furnished by the report be-
fore them. All along the line there has been
positive and steady, if not a great advance.
The increase in the number of parishes, in
the ministry, in church and Sunday-school
membership, and in contributions, shows
growing conservation to our vital interests;
prophetic of most gratifying future for our
cause. 1t is life at the heart of denomina-
ton which ensures living body of large USE
fulness in the world; and we earnestly urge
our people to an increased devotion, born of
the Divine Spirit, possessing which all things
needful will be added to US.
2, The report making mention of women's
work in connection with our UNCONVENTIONAL
interests we would suggest the importance
of hearty and liberal secondipg of the eff
forts of all our Women's Associations on the
part of our people. 1t has been shown that
these organizations are touching new springs
of action and producing results that merit
emphatic recognition.
3. We earnestly commend to our pastors
and people the formation of Young Peoples
Missionary Associations. The large number
of these already organized and represented
in the report as effecting good results, and
while they aid in increasing the funds for use
in missionary enterprises, they are also train
ing our young people in church work and ed
ucating them in spiritual and religious life.
We recommend that the Secretary be in
structed to call the special attention of the
officers of each State Convention to the i'm
portance of these organizations, and to urge
that such measures be taken by them as shall
result in an increase of the number of such
associations in each State during the year to
come.
4. We feel that no other item of the report
is more vital than the section which refers to
the increase of the ministry. We heartily
commend all that is said of the advantages,
intellectual, social and financial, to be Sc
cured in the ministerial calling; while we in
sist that the great motives to set before those
who contemplate the ministry as fe-work,
are the abiding sense of God-servioe, thu en-
thusiasm to do good, the love of religion as
the supreme concern of life, the duty which
says,"Wo is me if preach not" the charm
VI
love constraineth me-" We would call atten-
ton to and commend the efforts already
made by the Trustees to secure, through
State officers, definite information regarding
the fitness of our youth for the ministry, and
the obstacles which prevent them from as
Stunning that profession; and we heartily sup
port any and all reasonable means of secur-
ing consecrated workers in this field.
5. The duty of members of Sunday-schools
to become members of the Church, incident
ally alluded to in the Report, is of primary
urgency. and should be strongly and univers
ally emphasized in Sunday school work.
6. On account of local changes and unfore-
Sc en- causes, the ownership of church prop
erty has frequently been diverted from our
denomination. While it is distinctly under
stood that the use and benefits of all church
property are for the parishes and churches,
We wish to again call special attention to the
wisdom of having the title of all such proper
ty secured to the General'a and State Oonven-
ton, 30 that in all cases it shall be perma
nently owned and held by the Universalist
Church.
Z. Your Committee are also pleased to rec
ognize the growing interest in our educa-
tional institutions as evinced by the large
gifts toward the endowment of the same,
received during the year now past, and we
commend that spirit which has already
moved 80 many lovers of our cause to recon
their wealth into the higher realms which ed
ucation creates.
8. We note with pleasure the fact which
appears from the report that the missionary
boxes and annual collections have yielded
larger returns than for several years, while
the gifts to colleges and churches have been
also large but we cordially agree with the
Board of Trustees in their statement that
"our church has not come up to the meas
ure of its opportunity or of its ability in the
due conservation of the means of its people
to the cause of humanity, in the promnlga-
tion of its gospel, and the application of it to
educational and other benevoleLces." We
recommend that all ministers be urged to
frequently explain to their people the aims
and work of the General Convention; and
that all churches that can spare collections,
in addition to the usual annual Offering, be
reminded that the General Convention is the
principal means by which our church can
ego into all the world and preach the Cos
pei to every creature"
8. We approve the recommendation of the
Board that " the call for contributions from